A salesman from Utah has been sentenced to prison for selling a product he labeled as a “Silver Miracle,” claiming it could treat various illnesses, including flu, diabetes, pneumonia, and even COVID-19.
Gordon Hunter Pedersen, a 64-year-old Cedar Hills resident, received a three-year prison sentence along with one year of supervised release after admitting to charges of mail fraud and selling misbranded drugs, aimed at deceiving consumers. The FBI has referred to him as a “modern-day snake-oil salesman.”
Pedersen was the spokesperson and primary promoter for a business named My Doctor Suggests, which reportedly garnered around $6.1 million from 2012 to 2020. He marketed ingestible silver products via YouTube, boasting about their efficacy against COVID-19 even before vaccines became available in 2020.
In promotional videos, often appearing in a white lab coat, he claimed the product “resonates” at a frequency that disables viruses, preventing them from infecting healthy cells, according to the Utah District Attorney’s Office. Additionally, he falsely asserted on these videos that he was a board-certified “Anti-Aging Medical Doctor,” with multiple advanced degrees, which prosecutors disputed.
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Pedersen was charged with mail fraud for distributing his silver products—including lozenges, probiotics, soap, mouthwash, and gel—through the U.S. Postal Service. Utah Attorney Trina A. Higgins criticized Pedersen for profiting from vulnerable citizens during a trying time and emphasized her commitment to pursuing financial fraud cases.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha echoed these sentiments, denouncing Pedersen’s exploitation of vulnerable populations amid the pandemic. After initially being apprehended on August 7, 2020, Pedersen went on the run, leading to a three-year manhunt. He failed to show up for a federal court hearing, prompting a warrant for his arrest.
Law enforcement finally tracked him down on July 5, 2023, and he was arrested again in August 2023. During his March 2024 trial, Pedersen entered guilty pleas before proceedings could commence.